Bead-stringing machines



y 5, 1959 M. SPOOL BEAD-STRINGING MACHINES I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1956 May 5, 1959 M; SPOOL 2,885,130

BEAU-STRINGING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 19 6 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4A FIG. 4B

7 May 5, 1959 M. SPOOL BEAD-STRINGING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15,- 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll I 7 VII/Il/IAIIIII Fl G. 8A

WWL I. "VII/Illv 7 FIG. 9B

Uited This invention relates to a machine for stringing pierced beads, artificial pearls, natural pearls, or other similar pierced articles onto a thread, string, wire, chain, or similar strand.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a ready and simple mechanism that will string beads or similarly pierced items onto thread or wires.

Another object is to provide a bead-stringing machine which works continuously and quickly.

Another object is to provide a bead-stringing machine which requires a minimum of operating care and attention.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, this invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts, more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention, some parts being omitted for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically through the chamber of Fig. 1 on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of one of the shutter assemblies, all shutter assemblies being of similar design and shape but varying in number of holes and in size to fit their respective positions on the chamber.

Figs. 4A and 4B are schematic views of a shutter in the open and closed positions, respectively.

Fig. 5 is a'detailed plan view of the top bead-wire supporting clamp, the other clamp being substantially a duplicate.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation view of a bead-wire supporting clamp.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of a bead-wire supporting clamp taken on line 77 of Fig. 5.

* atent Figs. 8A and 8B are vertical schematic views taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5 showing a supporting clamp in the open and closed positions, respectively.

Figs. 9A and 9B are plan views of a portion of a bead-wire supporting clamp, showing a set of holes in I the open and closed positions, respectively.

The threading of beads, pearls, or similar pierced articles on strings, wires, chains, and the like, presents a problem which has not been solved satisfactorily to date. Machines now available are slow, require much adjustover a number of wires and, by chance, to become threaded on these wires. Those beads which are not threaded, are blown up again and the cycle is repeated. This machine also has an arrangement of clamps which permit removing the threaded beads from the chamber and from the machine with a minimum of disturbance to the operation of the system.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a chamber 1 which has a cylindri cal section 28, a conical section 29 as its lower part, and cover 9, which contains feed hopper 2. The bottom of this conical section has a bead blower section 5 which consists of a perforated ring-shaped section 30 and a central convex section 31. This bead blower section is fastened to supply line 8 for a supply of gas or liquid under pressure. The conical section 29 contains a number of generally concentric circular rows of holes 27. Over each circle fits a shutter assembly 3. The top of the chamber is closed preferably by an inwardly substantially convex-shaped cover which contains a. feed hopper 2. Windows 26 permit the operator to see the action which takes place in the chamber. A number of bead wires 7, which pass individually through the holes in the conical section of the chamber and through holes in the shutter assemblies 3, penetrate the pierced openings of the beads by chance, when the device is in operation. These wires extend downward through the shutter assemblies, which will be described hereinafter. The entire mechanism is supported by a series of supporting legs 6. It is understood that although the drawings show only a few holes 27 and a few wires 7 arranged in a few circles, the invention is not limited to any specific number or arrangement of these elements, except that there will be one wire 7 per hole 27. These wires, it should be further understood, may assume various shapes inside the chamber so as to be more likely to spear the beads.

Each shutter assembly 3, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, consists of two narrow conical sections, the inner one 10 which fits with a rotating sliding motion over a row of holes 27 on the conical section of the chamber, and the outer conical section 11 which fits with a rotating sliding motion on the inner section. Each of these sections has a means, shown as a handle 13, for rotating the section. Each of the conical sections has a series of holes 34 which matches a parallel series of holes 27 in the mating portion of the chamber. All these holes are large enough to permit the beads or other articles which are to be strung to pass through. Each shutter assembly is supported in its appropriate position on the conical part of chamber 1 by means of a snfiicient number of suitable brackets 15, which permit rotatably sliding motion of each section of the shutter assembly. The positioning lugs 12 which function with the stop pins 14 limit the rotating motion of the conical sections 10 and 11 from the position where the three mating holes are perfectly aligned (Fig. 4A) to a position (Fig. 4B) where mating holes of a shutter assembly overlap each other sufliciently to allow an ment and manipulation, and then provide only partial satisfaction. This invention provides a simple, foolproof machine which is easy and economical to build'and assemble and has been found satisfactory to carry out its work.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification.

Briefly, this invention relates to a machine which blows beads upward in a chamber causing these beads to fall opening which would permit a bead wire to pass through but would retain the beads in the chamber, this opening being centered below the mating hole of the chamber. Other types of positioning devices may also be used.

The bead-wire supporting clamp 4, one of which is shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, contains a pair of plates 16 and 24 slidably mounted between the flanges of two channel-shaped members 20. On the facing surfaces of plates 16 and 24, near the corners of these plates, are fastened gear racks 22. Gears 21, fastened to axle 17, mesh with the upper and lower racks in the driving side of the bead-wire supporting clamp, this side containing axle 17 which has handle 18. The driven side of this clamp contains idler gears 21, which are fastened to axle 19 and mesh with gear racks 22 at the driven side of the bead-wire supporting clamp. The ends of axles 17 and 19 pass through holes in the channels 20. A means to limit the sliding motion of these plates isprovided, such as stops 2 3. Rotatingmotion, imparted to handle 18 is transmitted to ,axle 17 and gears .21. These gears, through their association .with .geanracks .22, force the upper plate to slide inonc direction .and lower plate in the opposite direction. :Gears ,21'Q0n axle 19, and their associated gear racks serve as .idlers and separators for the driven end ofthebead-wire supporting clamp.

Each plate is bored with matching sets of holes Bland 33. ,A single set of holes 32permits ,passage .of supply line 8. A plurality of sets of holes ,33 are positioned in the plates so .that a single set of these holes is fhelow the holes in the conical section tof .the .chamber andare somewhat larger than the beads to ;be Wire clamp pieces 25 are fastened on the bottom face of plate 16, each clamp piece being fastened in such relation .in the hole that a portion of the clamp piece protrudes into the opening formed by the hole and .mating clamp .pieces are similarly fastened to the upper. face of plate 34 but are diametrically opposite the respective mating clamp pieces fastened to plate 16. These clamppieces aresuch thickness that they essentially occupy the vertical space between the plates 16 and 24 of each bead-.wiresupporting clamp and still provide a sliding fit :betweenone plate and the wire clamp pieces of the other plate. These pieces are so positioned about a pair of holes that they close in on each .other or separate as the platesare moved toward .each otheror apart. .Suchapair .OfWil'C clamp pieceais assembled aboutteach pair of holes, in -1 each bead-wire supportingclamp. It is these piecesthat. actually hold the bead-wire and support it inposition-when the bead-wire supporting clamps are closed, asshown in Figs. 8A, 813, 9A and 9B. These bead-wire supporting clamps, whether open or closed, do not disturb the position of the wire, as shown .in both views :of Figs. '8 and 9.

Itisthusseen that this invention functions. in the followingmanner. Beads, pearls, artificialpearls, or other similarly pierced articles are placed in the chamber through the feedhopperl andrest on the flat perforated area *30 of bead blower 5. Upon a fluid such asagas or liquid being blown through the bead Iblower from supplylineh, the beads are blown and disbursed in an upwarddirection, impinge on the under surfaceof the chamber cover 9.and are defiecteddownwardin random fashion, some of the beads falling threadedby'chance on wires 7. Those beads which do not ,get caught, roll or bounce down theinclined interior surface ofthe chamber and reach the bead blower where they areagain blown up torepeat the cycle. These beads are soon all caught by one or another of the many bead wires 7 inside the chamber.

Shutter assembly 3 permits -.the wires to enter the chamber and prevents the beads from rolling out. When the wires insidethe-chamber are loaded with ,the beads, as may be observedthroughthe windows.26,-and after the fluid pressure is .shut off, these same shutters upon being opened (Fig. 4A) provide ameans for allowing the threaded beads to slide down the wire .outof the chamber, where they come to rest on the upper bead=wire supporting clamp 4. These shutters 1 may then be closed and more beads maybe permitted to enterthe chamber dtrough thethopper, and the air or liquid pressure turned on. The upper beadwiresupporting clamp. 4 is then pressure in supply line 8, and the two sets of bead-wire supporting clamps in appropriate sequence, the operator can maintain a rapid supply of beads being threaded and delivered to the wires or threads at the lower end of the bead wires.

While I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that changes may readily be made in the size, shape, materials, or relative arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatusfor stringing pierced beads, comprising a chamber for the beads, said chamber having a lower conically shaped section pointing downwardly, said chamopened and the beads slide down to the lower bead-wire her having a plurality of holes arranged in one or more concentric circles in the lower conical section, and a plurality of wires protruding in an upward direction into the chamber through said holes, .wire supporting clamps mounted ,on a supporting structure of said apparatus below said holes ,for holding the wires, said chamber having fastened thereto a pipe for applying a fluid pressure upwardly against ,a supply of said pierced beads located in the bottom of the chamber to disperse them upwardly within the chamber, the top ends of said wires positioned inthe chamber so that the pierced beads may fall threaded on the wires.

2. Anapparatus according to claim 1 the lower. section containing a bead blower, said head blower consisting of a substantially horizontal perforated circular member, the lowest, part of said chamber below the bead blower having fastened thereto a pipe supplying gas under pressure.

3. An apparatus according to claim '1, the lowersection containing a beadblower, said head blower consisting of a substantially horizontal perforated ring-shaped section which encloses a rounded convex section, thelowest part of said chamber below the bead blower having fastened theretoa pipe supplying a fluid under pressure.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the chamber hasafilling device consisting. of a downwardly facing convex top, saidtop having a hole therein and a cover over said hole, to drop beads, or like materials into the chamber.

5. An apparatus according to claiml in which theholes in the lower section, which position the wires and allow the passage of threaded beads out of the chamber, accommodate one wire each.

6. An apparatus according to claim l in which the chamber consists of a cylindrical section m joined to a conical section, said sectionshaving equal diameters at.

their juncture, said cylindrical section being mounted on thelarger end of the conical section, the smaller end of said, conical section pointing downwardly and containing within it a blowing device for dispersing beads upwardly in said chamber by means of a blastof gasor liquid, said plurality of holes arranged in aplurality of circles at various heights in the conical section, said holes each having a single wire to pass into said chamber.

7. .An apparatus according to claim ,1 in which the chamber has .the plurality of holes in its lower section for the positioning of the wires and the passage of threaded heads out of the. chambeusaid holes accommodating onewire each, each such circle, having mounted below and adjacent to ,it a shutter assembly to retain both threaded and unthreaded beads in the chamber and also topermit threaded beads to slide down said wires out of the chamber at the will of an operator.

.8.,An apparatus ,accordingto claim 1 in which the chamber, having the conical section, has the plurality of holes in the -conical,section, for the positioning of the wires and thepassagecf threaded heads, out of, the chamber, saidholes arranged in aplurality ,of circ les around the conical section, each circle of holes at aidistinct elevation in. the, conical section, each hole accommodating one .wire, a shutter assemblymounted below and adjacent to each said circle of holes to retain threaded and unthreaded beads in the chamber or to permit threaded beads to slide down the wire at the will of an operator, said shutter assembly consisting of two rings which are shaped to fit one over the other, both conforming to the outer surface of the conical section and fastened for individual rotatably sliding motion over a circle of holes, said two rings each having a series of mating holes which can align with the circle of holes in the conical section, a single bead wire passing into the chamber through each set of three mating holes, said shutter assembly permitting threaded beads only to slide down the wire when the shutter is set in the open position and preventing passage of beads when in the closed position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, said holes arranged in a plurality of circles at various heights in the conical section, each circle of holes having mounted below and adjacent to it a shutter assembly, each of said shutter assemblies having a number of pairs of matching holes, each pair being associated with and alignable with a single mating hole in the conical section of the chamber, each such set of three holes accommodating a single wire, all wires extending downwardly out of the chamber and through one or more adjustable wire supporting clamps, which support the wires in position and, by the action of an operator, permit the threaded beads to slide down the wire or hold the threaded beads on the wire immediately above the clamp.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which the wires extend downwardly out of the chamber through holes in said chamber and through a shutter assembly and are supported below the chamber by one or more adjustable wire supporting clamps, each clamp comprising two spaced horizontal plates slidably mounted, these plates containing a series of holes in vertical alignment with the holes in the lower portion of the chamber, said plates having inserts provided between them, two mating inserts per set of mating holes, one insert per hole in each plate mounted on the under side of the upper plate and protruding into the bored-out area of the hole, and the other insert per hole in each plate being mounted on the upper side of the lower plate diametrically opposite its mating insert and also protruding into the hole area, such inserts being so positioned with respect to the sliding motion of the plates that these inserts move toward each other or apart as the plates are moved toward each other or apart, such inserts serving to secure the wire positively when the plates are in the closed position and to permit the wire to remain in its original position but permit passage of threaded heads when the plates are in the open position.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 in Which two adjustable wire supporting clamps are employed to support the wires, one clamp being secured above the other and both supported below the chamber, one clamp being maintained in the closed position while the other is in the open position to permit passage of the threaded beads while keeping the wire in its threading position in the chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,087,481 Roby et al. July 20, 1937 2,621,042 Stein et al Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 620,339 France Apr. 20, 1927 

